Gov. Robert Bentley in Huntsville to honor 38 graduates of Police Academy

Retired Huntsville Police Officer Donnie Daly pins the badge on his son, John Daly, during the Huntsville Police Academy's graduation Thursday night at Huntsville High School. (The Huntsville Times/Dave Dieter

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Retired Huntsville Police Officer Donnie Daly was a speechless and overwhelmed dad as he stood in the Huntsville High School auditorium Thursday night.

Daly, a 30-year veteran of the force, was already emotional as his son, John Alan Daly, became the third generation of Dalys to join the Huntsville Police force during the Police Academy's graduation. John joined his father and late grandfather, Foster Daly, who served with HPD from 1958-1980.

But dad said he nearly lost it when his son won the newly-named Daniel Golden Esprit De Corps award. Afterward, Donessa Golden, the widow of the slain police officer the award honors, congratulated John in an emotional moment for both.

"My dad would be flipping right now," Daly said after the 51st session of the Police Academy recognized 38 graduates. "My father was a police officer, and because of the example he set for me, I wanted to be one. And, unbeknownst to me, one of my sons also wanted to be a police officer.

"It's just a very humbling experience. I'm so proud ... it's just hard to explain."

There were a lot of emotions like that swirling around the HHS auditorium during the ceremony, which featured Mayor Tommy Battle and Gov. Robert Bentley as the commencement speaker.

John Daly also won the Top Gun award for firearm marksmanship, scoring 476 out of 500. The former Grissom High School baseball star is one of two third-generation HPD officers - he will be partnered during training with the other, Tim Evans - and hopes to one day be part of the only four-generation HPD family.

"Oh, this is huge," John Daly said. "It's a tremendous honor and something I've looked forward to and got accomplished. Anybody who has this job would want to pass it down to his son or daughter."

Huntsville Police Chief Mark Hudson said the graduating class is the largest ever for the city - 35 in 1991 was the previous high - and a big reason the governor made the trip up here.

"Today was a hard day for me in Montgomery, and yesterday was a hard day," Bentley told the graduates and crowd. "But coming here to honor you police cadets has made my day more pleasant.

"Tomorrow (today) is Veteran's Day and we think of the people in the armed forces who have served the nation both here and on the far fronts. But the security we enjoy in this country is because of our policemen. Thank you for all that you do."

This year's Police Academy class includes six African Americans, three women and one Native American as the Huntsville Police Department strives for diversity, Hudson said. He said the size of the class also says people still care about protecting others.

"We're working to reflect diversity in the department," said Hudson, who noted the three women graduates are more than usual for a class. "I think today's class is an example of the success we're having as we strive toward that goal (of diversity).

"To have this many people - and quality people - in law enforcement and in Huntsville says there are still good folks in America who want to go into public service."

Other cadet awards included top academic student, Jefford Wright with a 98.08 average; physical fitness award, William Nance who scored 660 out of 700; and the overall excellence award, Christopher Edwards.